jammed in amongst the loose spars and other portions of the wreck, until extricated by the watch on deck, who, being aft at the moment of the occurrence, escaped unhurt.  Before we could recover from this shock, the watch below rushed on deck, with the appalling intelligence, that the water had found its way below, and was pouring in like a torrent We found that the coppers, forced along the deck with irresistible violence, had, by striking a stanchen fixed firmly in the deck, split the covering fore and aft, and let in the water.  The captain thought it time to prepare for the worst.  As the ship, from her buoyant cargo, could not sink, he ordered the crew to store the top with provisions.  And as all exerted themselves with the energy of despair, two barrels of beef, some hams, pork, butter, cheese, and a large jar of brandy, were handed in a trice up from below, but not before the water had nearly filled the cabin, and forced those employed there to cease their operations, and with the two unfortunate passengers to fly to the deck.  Fortunately for the latter, they knew not the full horror of our situation.  The poor lady, whose name I have forgotten, young and delicate, already suffering from confinement below and sea sickness, pale and shivering, but patient and resigned, had but a short time taken her seat beside her fellow passenger on some planks near the taffrail, on which lay extended the unfortunate cook, unable to move from his bruises, when the vessel, a heavy lurch having shifted her cargo, was laid on her beam-ends, and the water rushing in, carried every thing off the deck—­provisions, stores, planks, all went adrift—­and with the latter, the poor lady, who, with the cook, floated away on them, without the possibility of our saving either of them.  But such was the indescribable horror of those who were left, that had we been able to reason or reflect we might have envied our departed shipmates.

A few minutes before we went over, two of the crew, invalids, having gone to the maintop, one of them was forced into the belly of the main top-sail, and there found a watery grave.  The rest of the crew, and the male passenger, got upon her side.  In this hopeless situation, secured, and clinging to the channels and rigging, the sea every instant dashing over us, and threatening destruction, we remained some hours.  Then the vessel once more righted, and we crawled on board.  The deck having blown up, and the stern gone the same way, we had now the prospect of perishing with cold and hunger.  For our ultimate preservation I conceive we were mainly indebted to the carpenter’s having providentially retained his axe.  With it, the foremast was cut away.  While doing this, we found a piece of pork about four pounds weight; and even the possession of this morsel raised our drooping spirits.  It would at least prolong existence a few hours, and in that interval, the gale might abate, some friendly sail heave in sight, and the elements relent.  Such were our